Darktober 8

Darktober 8

"... The attic room is, as Mz. Collins promised, very comfortable. It might just be the most comfortable room I've ever slept in, actually.

Granted, my basis for comparison is negligible, to say the least. But I dare anyone to say a big bed, fresh sheets and blankets, a clean new rug and a view of the ocean isn't cozy.

Of course, I'm writing all this as I'm struggling to fall asleep in this wonderfully comfy, fresh-smelling bed with the window looking out over the ocean beside me.

The attic doesn't scare me. Old rooms, new places, living with strangers, none of that has scared me since... I don't actually remember a time when I was ever scared of those things.

No, there's something else. I can't say what it is, exactly. It feels like... There's something waiting. A person, an event, I don't know. But there's a sense of hiding, waiting, in the air. And if I blink, much less fall asleep, I'm going to miss it.

Or it's going to get me."

"September 10, 2019

My name is Victoria Winters.

I'm on my way. A few hours by train from Bangor to Collinsport. Then pickup at the train station by the housekeeper, whom I've never met and who has never met me. Sure hope I don't get kidnapped....

This place seems nice, so far. Lots of trees, and rocks, and rain. Not so different from Boston, really. I haven't heard from Mrs. Collins-Stoddard since she sent my itinerary - I'm going to be optimistic and say she's just waiting for me to arrive, and this isn't a Taken situation.

This is a bad idea. I know this is a bad idea. But that feeling is still there. There's something important about Collinsport. Something to do with my history, where I came from. The draw I feel to this town I've never heard of before is stronger than my common sense, I guess. I hope it's enough to keep me safe."

************************************

A day late, but that's okay! For the month of October, I'm gonna be doing 1 small, QUICK illustration a day for a very short and spooky story I wrote. 🙃 It's a fanfic, modern day re-imagining of the first part of Dark Shadows, the horror-themed Gothic soap opera that originally aired in the 1960s that I've been low-key obsessed with for a few years. It's Darktober! Hope you enjoy.

It was my birthday today! I turned 30. :) It was a very quiet day, but I think that's okay. Having a giant birthday bash would have felt like I was saying goodbye to something. When really, it's a day like any other, the only thing that's changed is the number on my government record, and I'm really very okay with closing the book on my 20s. I'm cool with being "old". "Old" in very heavy air quotes because actually I'm still ridiculously, painfully young. I just magically don't get hit on as often by creepy old dudes. I'd say that's a pretty big plus. My 20s were incredibly tough and weird, but I learned a lot and now I'm excited to start a new decade of my life where I'm still young but maybe slightly less stupid. ON TO 40!

My very favorite Rumiko Takahashi panel.

If you’re an adult, do the stuff you couldn’t as a kid.

Like, me and my sister went to a museum, and they had an extra exhibit of butterflies. But it cost £3. So we sighed, walked past, then stopped. We each had £3. We could see the butterflies. And we did it was great. We followed it up with an ice-cream as well because Mum and Dad weren’t there to say no.

I was driving back from a work trip with 2 other people in their early 20s, and we drove past a MacDonalds. One of the others went “Aww man, I’d love a McFlurry.” And the guy driving pulled in to the drive through. It was wild. But it was great.

I went to a park over the weekend and I was thinking “Man, I’d love to hire one of those bikes and cycle round the park.” It took me a few minutes to go “Wait, I can hire one of those bikes!”

I guess what I’m saying is, those impulsive things you wanted to do as a kid - see the dinosaur exhibit, play in the fountains with the other kids, lie in the shade for 2 hours - you can do when you’re an adult. You have to deal with a whole lot of other bull, but at least you can indulge your inner 8 year-old.

Darktober 3

"September 11, 2019

My name is Victoria Winters.

Praise be to the gods, universe, and everything, I have made it to Collinwood (separate from Collinsport, apparently!) intact. Turns out the job offer was legitimate after all and I don't have to worry about kidnapping. Yet.

It's strange. I've never felt so... unsettled, before. Growing up in the foster system, "unsettled" was just my default. I never "settled" anywhere, so how could I feel "unsettled"? But here..."